Old Bemidji High School Remembered

 

 

This project started directly from our weekly lunches. 

Classof 64ever

 

 

Last weekend about 20 BHS alums and community volunteers came together to inventory all the pieces (several hundred in all) that were saved from our old high school. The pieces have been in storage since May, 2008, when the school was demolished. The purpose of the inventory was to determine which pieces need repair or replacing. The work was challenging, but it was also fun - to work together, enjoy delicious food, be outdoors on a gorgeous Northern Minnesota fall weekend, and accomplish a major task.

The next step for Old Bemidji High School Remembered is to determine the cost of rebuilding the entryway as we envision it - an open-air arch in the new South Shore Park.

I missed all the fun as I was in Beach at a funeral.   

 

 

Dogs

I need to get a trail camera.  There is more things that go on in my yard at night then I realize.  This morning I found this partially buried deer leg in one of my raised garden beds.  It has to be a dog that brought it.  They left no tracks.  I have skunks that are digging for grubs in my yard.  There are little shallow holes all over my yard.  But last night he must have gotten surprised as usually there is no odor.  But not so this morning.  I remember waking up and smelling something strong  during the night but could not tell what it was, so I went back to sleep.  I found out as soon as I went outside.  I guess a live trip might be in order.  Of course there are the usual deer track in my drive way.  No wonder my motion lights go off and on all night. 

smoke

A cover of smoke wafted across my home Wednesday.  It really worried me that I had not paid attention and the fire was near. I was at quilting and came out to a smoke covered church parking lot.  Bemidji was covered.   
"The smoke that is permeating the air in Beltrami County is coming from the wildfire that is raging across the north end of Beltrami County starting in the Fourtown area,” a statement from the Beltrami County Emergency Management Department stated Wednesday. It added that the fire started 100 miles northwest of Bemidji and is moving east/northeast.    Maybe something good will come from the storm that is scheduled by the weather service.  Snow is different than rain as the snow holds the moisture there while rain dissipates into the ground.  Only in Minnsota can you a a ban ban one day and a snow storm warning the next.   

The North Minnie Fire near Fourtown, north of Lower Red Lake, grew at least four miles to the northeast with the strong winds and low humidity on Tuesday. According to news statements sent out Wednesday, the fire traveled about eight miles from its origin.

 
 

“If you see someone illegally burning, don’t just ignore it,” Nelson said. “Call 911 and let’s get it stopped.”

Trip to Beach

Went to school with Hank Martens

From Shevlin

The three of us traveled to Hawaii together. 

Buzz's wife. 

Our librarian

The one in maroon knew Hank Martens very well

 

Jamon's best friend and my second son

 

 

While in Beach I got to see most of my very closest friends.  It was wonderful.  I even got to see my Bemidji friends and there were two of my friends that live in Shevlin at the Funeral. Buzz's wife was originally from Shevlin.   I also got to see one of my Bemidji High School Classmates who married into Buzz's family.  All in all it was a very good trip.  And on the way home I was able to have a birthday party for all of us at Jamon and Nat's home.  That is my son and his wife.  Their birthdays are in November and are apt to be forgotten this year as that is when the baby is due.  I had picked up a high end knife sharpener for their present which was very much needed.  Even Jamon was excited for his fillet knives to have a go in the machine.  Who says you can't have a good time sharpening  knives. Oh yes, they gave me a gift certificate at the local quilt shop.  I surely liked that.  I even got a new pattern which we can use at church as we quilt for World Relief.

Grolls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are pictures of one of my best friend's family.  While I was in Beach it was going to be my birthday the next day.  But is was the 26th anniversary of Jim and Sonja.  She made reservations for us to go out to eat at the Shamrock in Wibuax, MT.  We had a wonderful time.  Conversation good, friendship good, and food delicious.  I had brought Michelle and Joey's wedding present which was the yellow quilt and pillow shams.  I stayed a Joey and Michelle's home in Beach.   Anyway when they opened their quilt they proceed to tell me that in the last two moves they have misplaced their bedding and did not have a quilt for their bed.  They were extremely happy and Joey was so glad that it was more on the masculine side and not all fu-fu.  It was a great feeling to be among good friends.  I do miss them.  Again I motorcycled, camped and fished with this family.  What upstanding people.     

badlands

Flat prairie about 30 miles from the start of the badlands

 After this curve you drop down into the badlands and the Little Missouri River bottom

 

 

Whereas Beach is not in the Badlands, it is only twenty miles from them.  I spent a lot time driving the badlands on my motorcycle.  This trip brought back all those memories.  Infact, I was on a motorcycle trip with the Buzz Olson's family when I had a life changing experience. I was saved only by God and a quick reaction on my part.  That was one of the last trips on my 1600 yamaha cruiser. Big bike.
The story goes like this.  We had been biking all day in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora.  I remember that we had not seen any cars in the park.  As I entered the first ascent into the badlands I saw a semi barreling down the the highway that I was going up.  I moved over as far as I could because I realized that as fast as he was going he would have to move into my lane in order to make the curve at the bottom of the hill.  My two wheels were on the very edge of the pavement.  As I continued to go up I know his mirror was going to clip me.  So I ditched.  I laid it down and straddled the bike while I ducked and it missed me.  But I was on such an incline I had to stand there holding the bike brakes on so it would not slide down the hill.  Well as I said there was no one in the park until I ditched.  Then a convoy of cars came by slowing and looking.  Then  12 or so horse riders came by.  This all happened in about two minutes. time.  Then my group came back to help me.   My bike weighed over 700 pounds so it took several of us to lift it and for me to get back on.  I told them to go a head and finish the ride and I would just go back to where we were picnicking.  That was the year I sold my bike and got a trike.  Much safer. 
 

back to the future

No I did not buy a Delorean and I did not drive 88 miles an hour.  What I did do is go back to the city which I called home for 20 years.  I was there for a funeral of a very dear friend.  I camped, motorcycled and  broke bread with Buzz's family.  During that time I became part of their family as if I was related.  Through marriage I have also become attached to the family my niece's sister is married  to a nephew of Delores (Buzz's wife).  Kind of interesting one of my classmates also married into the family.  With those two things I was considered family. 

They say that you can never go back to a part of your life you have left.  But that is not true.  I left Beach and moved back to my home town and found that I just picked up where I left of after being gone for 46 years.  I also just went back to another life that I lead in Beach.  I always knew that I was liked there, but I really did not understand that I was truly loved there.  It was so fun catching up with all the changes in people lives and the structure of the town.

One of the structures I was interested in was my old house.  I found out it was interesting to see how it has been cared for.  But I did not feel any remorse in my choice to move from Beach.  I am totally happy in Bemidji and my new home. 

In up coming blogs I will talk more about my fabulous trip.

My old home

My 64ever classmate